基因组学技术初步分析甲基汞神经毒性功能基因

目的探讨甲基汞神经毒性差异表达基因功能。方法利用基因芯片筛选大鼠暴露体重剂量为0·5mg/Kg的氯化甲基汞后脑中的差异表达基因,并利用基因组学技术分析其功能。结果基因表达谱中差异表达基因共有303条,其中上调基因为170条,下调基因为133条。发生显著性改变的功能基因主要涉及到①免疫应答及解毒作用;②遗传信息传递与表达;③细胞信号传导;④神经传导;⑤细胞增殖与分化;⑥细胞凋亡;⑦其它未知功能等7组。在暴露组样本中,脑中有关细胞信号传导和神经传导功能基因发生了特别显著的差异表达。结论甲基汞通过对信号传导过程的影响,发挥其神经毒性的作用。

Analyzing the function of different expression genes in the brain of rat exposure to methylmercury using genomics technology

Objective Analyzing the function of different expression genes in the brain of rat exposure to methylmercury. Methods The experimental group of rats were treated with 0.5mg/kg weight of methylmercury via hypodermic injection. The different expression genes were scanned by using cDNA microarray, and the function genes were analyzed using genomics technology. Results The gene expression profiles showed that there were 303 genes, in which 170 were upregulated and 133 were downregulated, were differential expressed in the experimental group. Further analysis by bioinformatic technique disclosed that the differentially expressed genes were involved in many biological processes, which included immuno-response and detoxifcation, transfer and expression of genetic information, cell signalling, neurotransduction, cell proliferation and cell differentiation, apoptosis, etc. Cell signaling gene and neurotransduetion gene had an very obvious change in the exposure group. Conclusion The signaling pathway was the target by which methylmercury exerted the neurotoxic effects.